It's hard to believe that we've not even been in Iraq a full three days. We are learning our new roles as quickly as we can. I'm sure Mark already has a great handle on things here at the base/field hospital. It will be a very busy and important role, but I know he'll do an amazing job. With every new task I learn, I'm taking work and stress off of the small admin team here. I'm sure within a few more days my daily list of duties will be quite lengthy. We have new people coming to serve at the hospital every day and others who are heading back home. We also have an large amount of national staff who rotate in and out every few days. There are a lot of people to keep up with but the team here is wonderful and it's been incredible to see how God has handpicked each one of us to be here. Thank you for your continued prayers that we will serve well and as a caring and unified team.


War is horrific

I don't think anyone can be fully prepared to enter a warzone. Not mentally anyway. We received a thorough security training upon arrival in addition to some online training we had to do before we got here. I started to get a decent picture in my head of what it might be like, but nothing prepares you for seeing it with your own eyes. Our first night at the field hospital we received an influx of nearly 20 patients... the biggest load that had been seen here in days. It was all hands on deck and very intense. I'm sure serving in a hospital after a natural disaster is also difficult, but we've all remarked about how seeing the trauma and casualties of war is perhaps even more disheartening. These are victims of hatred and evil. Villages that were deserted by those fleeing the fighting have been heavily booby-trapped by the enemy and now many families trying to return are being killed when they step on their doormat or lift up the coffee kettle.

Please continue to pray for all of us here. Our medical team is working long hours and sometimes right when they think they'll get a break, a new wave of patients comes in. We can only do so much in our own strength, so we are relying on God to provide everything we need for this great task. Thank you for lifting us up whenever you can.

It's been quite cold here in Iraq. We packed accordingly but it's still a bit of a shock after being spoiled in warm Gulfport the past few weeks.

I was recruited on our first night here to be a hand holder in the women and children's ward. For nearly six hours I tried to console this little girl. I can't imagine what these precious children have already seen and experienced. As I am typing this, two little children are dying in the emergency room. They are being rocked and sung to by our loving team. We cannot explain how much we appreciate your prayers for us and these families.


2016 sure ended with an exciting bang! The last few months have been a whirlwind... from getting engaged right after my summer in Belgium, to planning our special day, and then heading to Haiti together a week after getting back from our honeymoon in Colorado. All of this beautiful craziness just makes us more excited for what God has in store for us in 2017!
Highlights from Haiti
Hurricane Matthew made landfall in Haiti on October 4th killing over 1,000 people and leaving nearly 1.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Mark deployed to Haiti just days later to help deliver aid to some of the hardest hit areas. He returned the week before our wedding and then we left for Haiti together shortly after our honeymoon. We served with Samaritan's Purse in Les Cayes, Haiti. I was the base manager for our team there and Mark was the area coordinator. It was an incredibly busy and full time. We were both glad to be back in Haiti where we could use our Creole and experience from living there before.

As the base manager I supervised 14 ladies who cooked and cleaned for our base. We became fast friends and I did my best during our busy days to get to know them and love on them. I wanted to leave them with a gift and the only resource I had for that was my camera. We had fun on several occasions taking silly pictures together. They loved it! I put all of the photos on one of their laptops so they can eventually print some of them out. It was a tearful goodbye even after only knowing them for three weeks. Mark stayed an extra two weeks to wrap up some of the important tasks and then we enjoyed the holidays together in Tennessee.
Although we were serving in a different part of Haiti than where I used to live, I did get to make a brief visit to the precious kiddos at Hope For Life Children's Home. They're doing well and still loving their new dorm. :)

What's next?!
We are leaving tomorrow on a new assignment with Samaritan's Purse. We will spend six weeks in Iraq helping the team provide emergency relief to Iraqi citizens fleeing the conflict in Mosul. Samaritan's Purse is distributing food and supplies to those living in evacuee camps and has set up an emergency field hospital for those in need. We appreciate your prayers for us and the team as we serve those who have left everything behind in search of refuge. Pray for us that we will have the opportunity to share about the One who promises to be our refuge and strength and a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1) Thank you for your love, encouragement, and support. We look forward to keeping you all updated as we follow after God's plans for us in the weeks and months to come.
I am so thankful for the compassion and generosity of others when a disaster strikes. I often receive comments and messages asking how people can help. Hurricane Matthew's devastation of Haiti has been no exception. 

 Let me try to write out a concise explanation that covers the basics for those of you interested in helping out. And this is not just limited to Haiti. It applies to disaster relief anywhere in the world. 

 Here are two common messages I receive:

 I would like to make a financial contribution. What organizations do you recommend? 

 When possible, support local organizations that were on the ground before the disaster and have long-term efforts already established. They have the best understanding of the needs and how to respond most effectively. They also have long-term development in mind and aren't only looking at short-term relief.

 Here's one great example of an initiative taking place in Haiti right now to provide relief where it's needed most. 

 HURRICANE MATTHEW EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN: This is a collaborative effort of several grassroots organization in the Gressier and Leogane areas to make a well-measured response. We are combining our efforts and resources to make both long-term and short-term positive impacts in some of the worst hit areas in Haiti. We are performing a needs analysis based on current needs and supplies already being sent by other relief groups. Our relief efforts will focus solely on the gap between what is needed and what is already being provided. We prioritize buying locally to support Haiti. If you feel called to help with this relief effort, you can contribute finanicially through the following link: www.amoveogroup.org/hurricane-matthew-response.  

Photo credit: Michael Broyles

What I love about this is that it is a combined effort of several organizations working together for maximum impact. Not only are they working together within themselves, but they are making it a priority to find out what other efforts are taking place so that relief is not duplicated and more people in need can be reached. I know these people personally and that they are doing everything they can to do things well. They are putting into practice important lessons that they learned after the 2010 earthquake. So again, if you would like to give to a reputable effort to help where it's needed most, click here to make a donation. 

 I am also heading up a smaller scale fundraising campaign for Hope For Life Children's Home and a few families I know in the Leogane area. If you would like to support either of those causes click here. It will automatically go towards the children's home, or if you'd like to support one of the families I mentioned on Facebook yesterday, write "families" in the "add a note" section. I can assure you that 100% of your donation will go towards those needs. 

I would like to travel to Haiti to help with disaster relief. Do you know any organizations needing volunteers? 

 I commend your desire to want to go and serve. If you don't already have personal contacts on the ground, it's generally not easy to quickly jump on board with relief efforts. From time to time I may hear of an organization needing volunteers with specific skill sets. I try to post those needs when I learn of them. But my general answer is this... If you find your heart pounding to get involved on the ground when a disaster happens, you should look into becoming a registered volunteer with organizations that deploy volunteers. This is something you can do ahead of time and possibly get your name on a list to serve with future disaster relief efforts. If you are in the medical profession I recommend Heart To Heart International, www.hearttoheart.org/volunteer. Samaritan's Purse also has opportunities in the U.S. and abroad. Occasionally they have an international DART position opportunity listed on their employment page where you can apply to get trained as a DART member. Otherwise check out their volunteer page where they'll have a list of current volunteer needs, www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/volunteer. These won't always be immediate opportunities after a disaster (unless it's in the U.S.), but if you have an interest in relief and development work in general, that's a great place to start.

 I just want to say thank you to all of you who have been praying for Haiti. I have personally been encouraged knowing that so many people have been lifting up a nation so dear to my heart. And my friends in Haiti have told me how much they appreciate your prayers and concern. Please continue to pray for them as they face a long recovery. I was devastated to hear that one of my friends lost his home, as just six years ago he lost his mother, father, and two sisters in the earthquake. This disaster is reopening wounds from that terrible time, and for many people it has only piled more debris on top of the huge mountain they've already been climbing since 2010. 

 But there is hope and together we can make a difference. I'm reminded again of the Haitian proverb "Men anpil, chay pa lou." Many hands make light work. Let's continue to work together to help build back a stronger Haiti!

I don't want to start counting down the days, but I can definitely sense that our time here is running short. The second half of my summer is looking much different than the first. The first several weeks were spent getting used to a new place and a new routine. We were meeting people constantly and getting into the groove of what our ministry would look like here. Now we are all meeting up with people individually and in groups on a consistent basis. I've made several new friends who are all at different places in their spiritual journey.

 There's one friend who I met just days after arriving here who told me during our first conversation that she is "very hungry for spiritual food." I've been trying to connect her with the local church community here. It has been interesting to see how the timing of events in her life have lined up with us meeting and me being able to encourage her during some of those challenges.

 And another new friend who I volunteered with recently. She's several years older than me, but it was the first time she had experienced anything like the refugee center where we were serving. She walked away that day disappointed in humanity and how refugees are being treated around the world. I tried to share what God has taught me about loving people and being a voice for those who need someone to speak up for them. She ended the day by telling me, "Knowing that noble people like you do exist makes me process better all I have thought and felt today." Such kind words, but I'm just thankful that God allowed me to share that experience with her and offer some encouragement. I'll be seeing her again this week and I hope to have more opportunities to share how Jesus has changed my life and given me a mission to share His message of love.

 And then there's Stela and Alaa who I will mention shortly...

 In my last update one of the prayer requests was for our team to have more access to the refugee centers. God heard our prayers! Doors have opened wider for us in the two main centers where we were working. And new doors have opened at other centers where we've recently made contact. The big center we've been serving in is allowing us to come in 3-4 times a week for the next three weeks for several hours at a time! That's a huge increase from only having a 1.5 hour slot once a week. We are so thankful for the relationships we have made with the children and the parents. Some from our team have also befriended several teenagers, many of whom came to Belgium alone. And just today I met a young lady who has been living at the center for six months. Three months ago she gave birth to a little boy. She is not married and has no other family here. All she can do is sit and wait for her papers to be approved so she can begin a new life for her and her son. I'm reminded every day that refugees are real people with real stories of loss, heartache, and desperation. They need love. They need hope. They need someone who will take time to sit with them and listen.

 It's a girl!

In my last update I asked for you to pray for my new friend Stela. If we're connected on Facebook you've also seen updates about this special family. On July 1st (two weeks ahead of her due date) baby Alexandra came into the world. I've been visiting with Stela regularly over the past several weeks. If you remember, I met Stela on her birthday, June 6th. I've never seen a face so lost and desperate on what should be a happy occasion, but I'm so thankful for the transformation I'm already seeing in Stela's life. Joy and hope are being restored as she is realizing God's abundant love for her. Her boyfriend Nicolas called me minutes after Alexandra was born. I went to visit them that day in the hospital and sat on the hospital bed with Stela for an hour, watching her cuddle with her newborn baby. Smiling as she looked at each finger, whispering to herself about Alexandra's tiny hands and the miracle of birth.

 While this small family is excited about their new addition, there are still many challenges ahead. Thankfully they haven't been evicted yet, but when I visited last week there was a sign on their front door that the building would be demolished August 1st. The clock is ticking! Please pray that a door would open soon for a housing option for them. Without a legal address they cannot continue with the residency process. The second prayer request is for a permanent job for Nicolas so that they can have a steady income. Having a full-time job is also a requirement to continue his permanent residency application.

 I would love to help this family in a few tangible ways while I'm still here. I'm reminded of the words of Jesus to help those in need. And while I don't believe that Stela and Nicolas are just sitting around waiting for a handout, I do feel that now more than ever they could use a little jumpstart to get them on their feet. I plan to raise some money for diapers and a stroller and anything extra I will put towards their first month's rent on a new place. 

 Prayer for a friend

 And finally pray for a friend of mine who works at my favorite restaurant. She is a Mus1im from the Middle East. She came to Belgium one year ago. We have enjoyed getting to know each other throughout the summer. She recently hung out for a couple hours. We talked about the similarities and differences between Islam and Christianity. Every chance I had I talked about God's love, the power of Jesus' sacrifice, and how following Him has forever transformed my life. When she told me that she tries to be a good person in hopes that maybe Allah will let her enter Heaven when she dies, I told her that I believe God loves us so much that He doesn't wait to see if we'll one day be "good enough". That He loves us so much He came to us through Jesus and made a way for anyone who believes to spend eternity in Heaven. And that He doesn't just wait until we die to give us good things, but when we believe in Jesus we get to experience hope and peace and love throughout our time on earth. I'm so thankful for my sweet friend and her friendship. I'm excited for more conversations and the opportunity to answer any further questions she has about my relationship with Jesus. Please pray for her as she starts a new life on her own in Belgium.

 Please pray also that refugees would experience the goodness of God in the midst of their pain. And pray for refreshment and increased energy for our team as we are in our final weeks in Belgium. Thank you all for your prayers, support, and encouragement! I'm so thankful for you!
It's hard to believe that I've already been living in Belgium for over a month. It's been an adventure getting used to a new place. It took a while, but I think I finally have the metro and transit system figured out... well enough anyway!

What's been most exciting has been going deeper with the relationships we're building here. Some of you may have seen the photo a couple weeks ago on Facebook of us having dinner with a family from the Middle East. We met them at one of the centers for asylum seekers and they invited us to share their iftar meal with them. Since we're in the middle of Ramadan, Mus1ims are fasting during the day and breaking their fast with iftar at sunset—which is around 10pm in Belgium right now. We've been invited twice to share this meal with them. It's an incredible and delicious spread of food. And spending that special time with the family has been such an honor. I wish that everyone could experience this incredibly generous hospitality. My heart is forever changed.

 After living in the crowded shelter for months, this family has been able to move into their own home. It's a temporary location, but you can sense their relief to finally have a place of their own. On Sunday I visited them again and began teaching English to the kids. The mom joined in as well which was great because she's learned quite a bit of English and was able to explain in Arabic the grammar I was teaching them. She's a teacher herself so it was fun to work and learn together. I also mixed in some French with the lessons because when they're finally able to attend school again in September they will be taught in French.

Can you imagine uprooting your whole family and having to learn another language (or two) just to be able to live and be productive in a completely different society from what you've been used to your whole life?! This family has shared with us one horror story after another about what it's been like for them the past several years. The father has been injured so severely that it is truly a miracle he's alive. He lost two of his brothers in the war. They've had many threats against their family and finally made the decision to attempt the risky journey to flee and start over. There are still more challenges ahead, but they're feeling a bit more hopeful each day. They shared with us that our friendship has brought them a tremendous amount of encouragement.
I'm glad we still have several more weeks to share Christ's love with them in meaningful ways. On Friday we were able to tell them the story of Jesus. It was the first time anyone had told them why Jesus died on the cross. Please continue to pray for this family as they begin a new life in Belgium. And pray for us as we go deeper in our relationship with them.


During the week our team is spread out across the city doing outreach. Sometimes we'll meet people in a coffee shop or through a service project. Other times we'll just introduce ourselves to people we meet on the street. We've been able to encourage and pray for so many people! We've also seen people being physically healed from injuries and ailments. One woman my team members met who was walking with a cane received healing. She took a step after they prayed for her and yelled, "This is impossible!" The team told her that they prayed in the name of Jesus and the woman asked, "Can I pray in the name of Jesus?" Of course our team said yes! The lady invited them to her house for dinner and they were able to share more about God's power and love.

 Pray for Stela 

 I met Stela a few weeks ago—June 6th to be exact. It was her birthday. I didn't know it was her birthday at the time. I only knew that it was a rough day in the middle of a challenging year since moving to Belgium from Romania. When I passed her that day I had noticed her protruding belly and her sweet face and sat down to learn more about her story. The details are too complex to mention right now, but please pray for this young mother-to-be (only 19) and the difficult journey ahead as she attempts to start a new life here. She and her boyfriend will be evicted from their home in a few weeks because the building is being demolished. They have little money and nowhere else to go. I spent a few hours yesterday trying to find out what services are available in the city for their situation. Will you please pray for them as they admitted they are running out of hope? Pray for me also that I will have wisdom to know how to help. And that God would open the doors that need to be opened for them. The odds of being able to start a new and good life here are sadly not in their favor. But I want to try to do what I can to see what help can be found for them. Thank you for praying for Stela and the baby girl that we will be welcoming into the world some time around July 13th!

 Thank you for your prayers! We are seeing and feeling the effects of them!

See, I am doing a new thing! Those words from Isaiah 43:19 have been replaying in my mind lately. As I think about my upcoming summer in Belgium, I recognize how different this opportunity is from anything else I've ever done. How exciting! And it's also a reminder that I'm completely relying on God to accomplish His purposes throughout my time there. I am doing all I can to prepare—studying about Is1am, learning more French, praying for our team and for those we will meet and serve, and so on. But I must admit that I do not feel particularly equipped for this assignment. I'm simply trusting in the One who called me to this "new thing" and I'm asking Him to work through me to accomplish more than I ever could my own! I know that God is going to use this summer to grow my faith and take me even deeper and further with Him.

 Our Vision: Our vision is to ignite a disciple-making/church-planting movement among refugees, the Mus1im community, and native Europeans in Brussels that spreads throughout all of Europe and back into the Middle East bringing transformation of hearts and society.

 The role of my team will be to build relationships within those three groups mentioned above. We'll be active in community outreach, assessing needs, partnering with other organizations, starting Bible studies, and facilitating Impact Trips (teams coming to serve in Brussels for 2-3 weeks throughout the summer). Thank you for your prayers that God will draw men and women to Himself and into a deeper relationship with Him.

 Support Update: Thanks to the support of many of you, I only lack $1,075 to be fully funded for my summer in Belgium. If you feel led to help with this remaining amount, click here. And again, thank you to all who have committed to being a part of our team through your giving and prayers! We couldn't do this without you!
"The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow."
Psalm 146:9

Prayer requests:
  • Pray for unity and encouragement among the long-term team members
  • Pray for salvations within the refugee community and for our discipleship ministry
  • Pray for the Belgians to encounter the living God and for an increase in local believers

 Your gift to ACC is tax deductible. Donations are solicited with the understanding that ACC has complete discretion and control over all donated funds. In practice, ACC implements donor instruction wherever possible. If for any reason I am unable to go on this trip, funds raised will be used to meet the team’s needs.

33 days! That's how many days until I fly to Europe for the summer. In barely over one month I will be saying goodbye to these beautiful hills of Tennessee and jetting off to a new season with the Lord. 

 Several of you have been in contact with me after the terrible attacks in Brussels three weeks ago. We are still continuing as planned, though our leadership team has been wise to take time to regroup, wait, and pray as they seek God's guidance for our ministry in Belgium. They have been in close communication with the ministry partners on the ground as they work out the details for our arrival and time there. A few of them were actually in Brussels just days before the attacks. During that trip they were incredibly encouraged to see how Jesus is working in the city among refugees and also in the Mu$1im community and in the lives of the native Europeans. Our team will be entering Brussels at an exciting time to be able to join up with what God is already doing there. 

I'm excited to report that well over 50% of my support has already been raised for this trip. I currently need $2,400 to be fully funded for my three months in Belgium. If you feel led to contribute financially to my trip, click here to give securely online. A HUGE thanks to all of you who have already donated. I am so humbled by the opportunity to serve God in Brussels this summer. And I'm thrilled that so many of you have joined our team through your prayers and giving! I look forward to sharing stories with you soon!
"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him."
Nahum 1:7

 Prayer requests:
  • Pray for our team as each one of us prepares ourselves spiritually and practically
  • Pray for an opening for the gospel among the refugee community and others
  • Pray for our leadership team and ministry partners as they plan for our arrival
"Prayer doesn't fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work."
-Oswald Chambers

 Your gift to ACC is tax deductible. Donations are solicited with the understanding that ACC has complete discretion and control over all donated funds. In practice, ACC implements donor instruction wherever possible. If for any reason I am unable to go on this trip, funds raised will be used to meet the team’s needs.
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About Me

About Me
In 2005 God asked me to surrender my life to His plans and purpose. Everything changed. From Mexico to New Orleans to Namibia to Haiti it's been one incredible adventure with the Lord after another. This blog is a piece of that journey.

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Hope For Life Children's Home

Hope For Life Children's Home
Wanna meet some special kids? Visit www.hopeforlifehaiti.com and see what they're up to and how you can help! Click on the photo above and "Like" them on Facebook!